Valley fire departments granted $956K to boost radio communications

The State of Ohio has come up with $956,000 to help 28 Valley fire departments upgrade their communication systems.

The 307 statewide recipients of the 2024 grants for Multi-Agency Radio Communications Systems, known as MARCS, will share $4 million.

The MARCS radio system allows first responders to seamlessly communicate with each other as well as other agencies as they respond to an incident. MARCS radio system technology is advanced and the costs to acquire and operate this equipment can be significant.

More than half of the grant funds were awarded to volunteer fire departments, and 73 departments are first-time MARCS Grant recipients.

The need for improved radio systems in the state is greater than the resources available. During this funding cycle, the State Fire Marshal received more than $10 million in requests for the $4 million in total funding available.

“Effective communication is key to protecting both the public as well as first responders in emergencies. Because of this, it is critically important that Ohio’s firefighters have access to the best technology available,” State Fire Marshal Kevin S. Reardon said.

Mahoning Total $219,110.75

• BEAVER TOWNSHIP FIRE DEPARTMENT $49,381.00
• BERLIN TOWNSHIP FIRE DEPARTMENT $12,795.75
• COITSVILLE VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT $20,195.00
• DAMASCUS VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT $39,693.40
• GREEN TOWNSHIP VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT $9,606.60
• LOWELLVILLE FIRE DEPARTMENT $43,978.75
• NEW MIDDLETOWN VILLAGE FIRE DEPARTMENT $19,563.75
• STRUTHERS FIRE DEPARTMENT $23,896.50

Trumbull Total $361,559.91

• BAZETTA FIRE DEPARTMENT $10,924.90
• BRISTOL TWP FIRE DEPARTMENT $8,878.25
• BROOKFIELD TOWNSHIP FIRE DEPARTMENT $7,650.00
• CHAMPION TOWNSHIP FIRE DEPARTMENT $21,372.00
• CORTLAND FIRE DEPARTMENT $4,045.00
• FARMINGTON TWP VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT $25,217.00
• GREENE TOWNSHIP FIRE DEPARTMENT $45,643.74
• LORDSTOWN VILLAGE FIRE DEPARTMENT $16,811.00
• MCDONALD FIRE DEPARTMENT $49,282.57
• MECCA VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT $18,006.00
• MESOPOTAMIA VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT $28,869.00
• NEWTON FALLS JOINT FIRE DISTRICT $26,969.75
• SOUTHINGTON VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT $8,838.50
• VIENNA FIRE DEPARTMENT $21,194.00
• WARREN TOWNSHIP FIRE DEPARTMENT $20,154.20
• WEATHERSFIELD TOWNSHIP FIRE DEPARTMENT $47,704.00

Columbiana Total $156,438.80

• HANOVER TWP VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT $42,719.00
• PERRY TWP VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT $33,189.30
• SALEM FIRE DEPARTMENT $36,371.50
• WINONA BUTLER FIRE DEPARTMENT $44,159.00

The MARCS system provides statewide, secure, reliable public service wireless communication for first responders. There are currently more than 120,000 voice units and more than 1,800 mobile data units on the MARCS system, with more than 2,800 local, state, and federal agencies statewide.